Home again

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. With apologies to Mr. Dickens.

While I’ve been meaning to resume posting here it always seems to take me a while to re-engage. Writing is hard work for me. Plus returning from a trip means wading thru phone messages, mail and emails (I don’t travel with a laptop or smart phone. Don’t own either in fact.)

If you’ve posted a comment or asked a question on the blog while I was gone, take a look. I’ve responded to all those now. If you are just curious, on the left side of the blog, below the list of posts, you’ll find links to the recent comments. BTW, some of the best stuff is in the comments.

I’ve also managed to catch up on some of my favorite blogs and have even taken time to comment on a couple of their recent posts:

Mr. MM Like me, Mr. MM was also on vacation this summer. Unlike me, he carted along his laptop (which as you all now know, I don’t own) and continued to post. Making me look bad. 🙂

Quite a few readers migrate over here from MMM and I’ve noticed jlcollinsnh has been the topic on a couple of the discussion forums there:

On this one, gestalt162 does a nice job of clarifying some of my points — so thank you sir. Let me just add, while I would prefer to be a renter now, I am not saying one should never own a home. As a careful reading of my piece shows. But run the numbers as I show you. Most often, they will show owning is the more expensive option. But not always and not in all places. And that’s fine if that’s how you want to spend your money. But do it with your eyes open.

Wine and Work combines travel and wine, two of my favorite things. In this post, Tom tracks down and educates me on a little Peruvian wine we discovered a few weeks back in Arequipa. I’ve never been famous on a wine blog before! 🙂

As if all those weren’t enough distraction, my local library also had several requested books waiting upon my return. Reading them has provided a further excuse to avoid writing.

Given my interests, I was really looking forward to this one. Mostly a disappointment and I found myself skimming large parts. Maybe I’m the wrong audience, but better and clearer info is available elsewhere. Still, Ramit has done a great job of marketing himself and he’s sold a ton of books. If I ever get mine done…

This is another that was recommended on one of the blogs I follow and no disappointment here. I’m only sorry I can’t remember where to offer my thanks. It is an engaging discussion of the usefulness of having a philosophy of life and why that of the Stoics is worth consideration. Many would say it is a little late in life for me, but everyone should take a bit of time to think about how to live their life and why. Seems I stumbled upon Stoicism along the way. So this is filling in some blanks and assuring me that if indeed I’m crazy, so were some pretty smart Greeks and Romans. Oh, and Stoicism isn’t what I thought it was. Might not be what you think it is either.

Boris Johnson is the mayor of London, known for his quick wit in the British fashion, and, as it happens, a very entertaining writer. Life of London is the city’s history told in chronological order with vignettes of the key people, places and things that made the place the city it is today; starting with Boudica. No, I didn’t know who she was either. But now I can tell you there were a lot of Romans at the time who came to wish they didn’t either. As another Johnson (Samuel) once said: “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Boris tells the story as to why.

Writing is tough work. At least I find it so. As such I am always intrigued when authors seem to go out of their way to make it tougher. Like when a male author presents his novel in the first person voice of his female narrator. This is the story of Karen Hollander, who at the pinnacle of a brilliant career steps away from consideration for a nomination to the Supreme Court. That she would be one year older than I and she recounts growing up in Wilmette, the same Chicago suburb as did I, makes this one especially fun for me. But it’s also a page-turning story that would hold my attention anyway. Anderson has a great ear for the attitudes and beliefs across generations. And genders.

So there are my excuses and some options to maybe keep you entertained. Later.

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Comments

I submit that there are some intangible benefits to owning that will never show up on a rent/own comparison analysis. These have to do with stability and flexibility.

Stability:
– Rent can increase
– Landlord/Property Manager can go bankrupt, die, decide not to renew the rent, decide to sell, forcing you to move

Flexibility:
If you are a renter, it is much more difficult (if not impossible) to do the following:
– Cultivate and harvest natural resources from your land (timber, crops, livestock, etc)
– Add-on or remodel at will (add a garage, plant a tree, repaint the interior, add energy-saving improvements, build a shed, destroy a shed, knock down a wall, add a window, remove a door, build a moat and drawbridge, and so on)

I also re-iterate the point that I’ve made on many blogs in the past (including yours I believe) that if you rent, you are indirectly paying the landlord’s taxes, insurance, and fees. Those costs are unavoidable. The only thing you can avoid as a renter is maintenance costs in the short term, although in the long run you’ll probably end up subsidizing them through your rent payments too.

Finally, if you value privacy and elbow room, it’s a lot more difficult to find a rental property without neighbors on all sides (often sharing walls or floor/ceiling).

I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense to rent. However I don’t think it is quite so straightforward as running a financial analysis and going with the cheaper result.

I’m also glad that you’ve read A Guide to the Good Life. My suggestion was in response to your blog post on MMM “The older I get the more real that becomes. My response has been to increasingly hold each day precious.” But don’t thank me, thank Mr. William B. Irvine & the Romans.

Just hit the link you provided and re-read your review of “Good Life.” Really well done and I encourage anyone thinking of picking it up, or just wanting to get a sense of what it’s about, to read it too.

I am so glad to see one of my favorite bloggers back in action. You are an awesome writer my friend. I am so glad that your tenacity to speak from heart attracts lots of readers. Your trip and renewed energy reminds me that time is far more important than money as each sun set that we witness. Thanks for the mention. I am truly honored.

Now I have a travelin’ jones, everyone seems to have been on the go! I thought you left for good and I just found your blog. I have been hoping to read more of what you type! Travelling is wonderful, but it sure is nice to be home after a grand journey. Welcome back. Now please make some more of those helpful posts once you get sorted out at home!

Good to see you and see that your were not a yellow fever victim. For a moment I thought I would have to dig another lock for the canal. I will be looking forward to your thoughts on hedging the election results from your financial perspective. You know me, I am staying tangible. Good to see you back. Now start writing.

Welcome home. Love the Boris Johnson book recommendation. Down to earth chap who rides his bicycle to work every day. And I have to check out some of your other recommended finance/money management blogs. Thanks!

Hey, glad to have you back posting again. Always enjoy your writing. Your story on your real estate troubles in Chicago was engaging indeed.

As far as our disagreement goes, I think indexing is a fine way to invest…but just not for me. I want a strong dividend that grows annually above the rate of inflation. Index funds typically offer low yields and inconsistent growth of the payouts. So, I’d have to sell shares once I retire. I plan to live solely off my dividend income and allow my equities to continue growing in price. Just sayin.

Nice to have you back!
I already ordered “A Guide to the Good Life”, based on your recommendation (I checked the library first, no luck). Looking forward to reading the links and your upcoming posts!
Here’s a link for you – it’s been my lifestyle goal for a while, and it sounds like a lifestyle you’ve mentioned, and your long-term Ecuador trip. Other articles include ones on “living cheap” and “traveling well”. It’s not necessarily “Business”, but it certainly fits in the “Life – Money” part.http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/12-07/why-and-how-to-embrace-long-term-slow-travel.html
…of course, we’re all a bit curious about the “best of times – worst of times” remark…!

Welcome home, Jim, and thanks for the mention. Wouldn’t have caught it, except I took a rare noodle through some traffic stats. I’ve put “Guide to the good life” on the wish list. Humans being humans and as such constant, two-thousand-year-old truths are still fresh today. Thanks again.